Home Gaming Xbox One games will be locked to your console

Xbox One games will be locked to your console

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1liox[3]

So last night was the big reveal for the next Xbox console. Or as it is now called, the Xbox One. It looks like a decent console with some great tech. Including the ability to keep second hand games locked away from consumers. Unless you pony up some cash that is.

Microsoft confirmed to Wired via CVG that the Xbox One will require mandatory installs onto the hard drive, and that if players want to swap games or play a title belonging to a friend, it’s going to cost them.

“On the new Xbox, all game discs are installed to the HDD to play,” a Microsoft representative told Wired. Once a disc has been installed onto the hard drive, it’s going to be tied to that specific console for life.

What follows naturally from this is that each disc would have to be tied to a unique Xbox Live account, else you could take a single disc and pass it between everyone you know and copy the game over and over. Since this is clearly not going to happen, each disc must then only install for a single owner.

Microsoft did say that if a disc was used with a second account, that owner would be given the option to pay a fee and install the game from the disc, which would then mean that the new account would also own the game and could play it without the disc.

There’s no word yet from Microsoft how much this fee will cost players who prefer second-hand games over brand new copies. Microsodft’s Phil Harrison has, however, confirmed to Kotaku that you’ll still be able to sell your used games.

 ”We will have a solution—we’re not talking about it today—for you to be able to trade your previously-played games online,” Harrison said.

Unfortunately, it seems that the fee to activate the licence on newly released second hand games will be the same as buying it new.

[quote]

“The bits that are on that disc, you can give it to your friend and they can install it on an Xbox One,” Harrison said. “They would then have to purchase the right to play that game through Xbox Live.”

“They would be paying the same price we paid, or less?” Kotaku asked. 

“Let’s assume it’s a new game, so the answer is yes, it will be the same price.”

[/quote]

Last Updated: May 22, 2013

123 Comments

  1. Tateboetie Malaaitie

    May 22, 2013 at 09:03

    Eish.

    Reply

  2. Darthdad

    May 22, 2013 at 09:04

    How many feet do the Xbox one team have? They definitely have enough ammo to keep shooting.

    Reply

  3. TriangularRoom

    May 22, 2013 at 09:10

    Sounds like it will be kinda like buying a game on Steam. It’s attached to your account forever and ever. Will be interesting to see if this kills the second hand game market completely…

    Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      May 22, 2013 at 09:33

      That was my first thought too, but then they mentioned not being able to take your disc along with you to your friend’s place & play it there – that sucks big time for my console brothers.

      Reply

    • Faeez Hendricks

      May 22, 2013 at 13:19

      I think it could kill the second hand game market when the next gen consoles launch, but current and previous gen will still be around for quite a long time. Thats how i see it. I mean most people wont adopt the next gen consoles easily after hearing this.

      Reply

  4. Gavin Mannion

    May 22, 2013 at 09:10

    I can’t believe they’ve done this… it’s insanity.

    I share my games with my family all the time, losing the ability to share my games with the family is making this a non starter…

    Not to mention that if you have to install the entire game then you can only have 10 or so current titles at once… for a journalist that is suicide

    Reply

    • Ultimo_Cleric_N7

      May 22, 2013 at 09:23

      What are they thinking……Although As a PC gamer I have been going through this for a while. I cant sell ANY of my games, hence why I want to move to console.
      PS4 just won the race I think…

      Reply

      • MieLLiePaP

        May 22, 2013 at 09:28

        Don’t go to Sony that fast…coz from what i’m have seen is that all consoles will require a activation from the game. Like the one employee said at MS that lost his job: Deal with it! But this will be hard to deal with in SA…think we should make our own consoles 🙂

        Reply

        • CaptainNemo42

          May 22, 2013 at 09:38

          Ouya looking mighty nice right now.

          But that’s just the thing. Sony said their consoles will be pre-owned friendly, but they didn’t say in what way. So we need more info on this before jumping to all sorts of conclusions.

          Reply

          • Ultimo_Cleric_N7

            May 22, 2013 at 09:41

            Very true, you are right. To me its more the more concerning thing is that its sounding more and more like the Xbox will need some form of persistent internet connectivity. And that will be a BIG problem, since Sony have stated that you dont need that with the PS4

          • MieLLiePaP

            May 22, 2013 at 09:50

            no Sony said the same words that MS said last night…that was: No, you don’t need to be “always connected”….but do you still require internet to activate the games? i think with MS and Sony you will have to activate your game before you can play it

          • Ultimo_Cleric_N7

            May 22, 2013 at 09:53

            Aah okay good, well thats something I guess.

      • Johan du Preez

        May 22, 2013 at 11:46

        Yes but you can pirate the game and pass it to your friend

        Reply

    • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

      May 22, 2013 at 09:23

      Agreed, But it hurts man, I was extremely Excited last night for this

      Reply

    • Rince an repeat

      May 22, 2013 at 09:31

      This really grips my shit. I was impressed by a lot of the cool functions last night but this goes a long way to making me buy a PS4.

      Reply

    • ElimiNathan

      May 22, 2013 at 09:36

      Share your account

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        May 22, 2013 at 09:36

        You can’t login to the same account at the same time… so when my dad’s playing Bioshock Infinite at home I can’t play anything?

        Reply

        • ElimiNathan

          May 22, 2013 at 09:39

          Eish good point, luckily I don’t have to share any games

          Reply

        • Rince an repeat

          May 22, 2013 at 09:41

          I’m confused, I thought that it was locked to the console? As in, you put a code in, it works on that console, as well as with a specific account should you want to go to a friends house to play? Getting SO lost in all the bullshit that everyone is spewing…

          Reply

        • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

          May 22, 2013 at 09:48

          Is it hardware locked or account locked?

          Reply

          • Johan du Preez

            May 22, 2013 at 11:47

            I think Hardware locked.

          • mancera

            May 22, 2013 at 16:26

            Account locked, as it says up there ^

            “each disc would have to be tied to a unique Xbox Live account”

          • mancera

            May 22, 2013 at 16:26

            Account locked, as it says up there ^

            “each disc would have to be tied to a unique Xbox Live account”

          • mancera

            May 22, 2013 at 16:26

            Account locked, as it says up there ^

            “each disc would have to be tied to a unique Xbox Live account”

    • LordCaptainAwesomeness

      May 22, 2013 at 10:20

      PS 4 then it is 🙂

      Reply

    • Tasty peas mixed with porridge

      May 22, 2013 at 12:25

      We all expected this shit to happen so it should not be a surprise to any of us who have been raging the last 6 months.

      I expect more bad news because they can.

      Reply

  5. eXpZA

    May 22, 2013 at 09:11

    Two very important bits of clarification, before we start losing our minds:

    “Other users on the console will be able to play that game as well, Harrison said. So you don’t need to buy multiple games per family.”

    “should you choose to play your game at your friend’s house, there is no fee to play that game while you are signed in to your profile.”

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      May 22, 2013 at 09:16

      yeah the game is linked to the profile not the console
      “What follows naturally from this is that each disc would have to be tied to a unique Xbox Live account”

      Reply

    • Rince an repeat

      May 22, 2013 at 09:34

      I wish people would put this up in a prominent spot, so that the confusion is SORTED OUT. “”should you choose to play your game at your friend’s house, there is no fee to play that game while you are signed in to your profile.”” That goes a long way to addressing most of the comments in this thread, yet people don’t read what you have posted, and so Rince, and repeat the same miss-informed information.

      Reply

    • CaptainNemo42

      May 22, 2013 at 09:47

      What confuses me is this. The game can be played on multiple accounts on the same console. I can also take my game to a friend’s console and log in to my account and install and play. So does’t that mean he will then be able to play it on his account on his console? How is that going to work?

      Reply

    • Aussious

      May 22, 2013 at 10:33

      See the thing is currently I have 11 accounts on my Xbox, only one is mine so does that mean everyone has to use my account to play the game?

      Reply

  6. Uberutang

    May 22, 2013 at 09:12

    They will probably have some kind of market place for users to sell off licences. for a small fee off course.

    Reply

  7. Charles Du Plessis

    May 22, 2013 at 09:20

    Kotaku put up several articles since last night ripping xbox apart.

    Reply

    • Ultimo_Cleric_N7

      May 22, 2013 at 09:24

      Ya, Microsoft have screwed the pooch big time here.

      Reply

      • Brady miaau

        May 22, 2013 at 09:38

        Screwed the pooch indeed.

        Reply

    • Purple_Dragon

      May 22, 2013 at 10:17

      It’s brilliant, they really had a go at xbox hey.

      Reply

  8. Ultimo_Cleric_N7

    May 22, 2013 at 09:21

    Well if this is the case, I think Persistent Internet should be the case then, right? I mean you would HAVE to be online to register the game…….
    So basically, Microsoft just lost half the world of gamers. KAK MOVE MICROSOFT…..

    Reply

  9. Skyblue

    May 22, 2013 at 09:22

    This is all Valve’s fukken fault!! They started this shit with Half-Life 2 and Steam. That said, my Steam library has over 100 titles…

    Reply

    • Tateboetie Malaaitie

      May 22, 2013 at 11:13

      Pc games are way cheaper, wonder how much steam helped with that.
      Then you also have the steam sales, you gotta love steam.

      Reply

    • Tateboetie Malaaitie

      May 22, 2013 at 11:13

      Pc games are way cheaper, wonder how much steam helped with that.
      Then you also have the steam sales, you gotta love steam.

      Reply

  10. Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

    May 22, 2013 at 09:25

    If you’re not the ONE then why does my soul feel glad today?
    If you’re not the ONE then why does my hand fit yours this way?

    I WAS READY TO SING DANIEL BEDINGFIELD TO MICROFLACCID!!!

    Reply

    • Rince an repeat

      May 22, 2013 at 09:33

      Me too man, and I was going to harmonise and everything…

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        May 22, 2013 at 09:51

        Lol, we can all do it together as the Lazygamer choir 🙂

        Reply

        • Rince an repeat

          May 22, 2013 at 09:54

          Just saw this on twitter, and have to agree, I don’t WANT to, but it is true. “It’s really cool to be cynical about the XBox One but it’s important to remember that as a hardcore gamer you’re not the key demographic now”.

          Reply

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            May 22, 2013 at 09:56

            Yeah, I ranted that a while back and as much as it hurts to think that way it is true.

          • Rince an repeat

            May 22, 2013 at 10:00

            Yeah. Also, just been re-looking at Sony’s announcement, they ALSO said that with the purchase of a game you would be required to put a code in. This is exactly what MS said isn’t it? You have to put a code in for a newly purchased game, to me that means it either ties to your account or console, meaning you will also not be able to play it at a mate’s house…

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            May 22, 2013 at 10:03

            It’s just the natural progression of the gaming market unfortunately. In an ever increasing industry tat is money driven they want to squeeze every cent out where they can.

            Steam proved how successful this can be and how willing people are to part their money with items they can NEVER get rid of ever again. Then all games on PC became like that with no way to resell the games.

            It was only a matter of waiting for the next-gen consoles for it to happen there as well.

          • Rince an repeat

            May 22, 2013 at 10:06

            Then why is the rage from last night so much worse than after the SONY launch? Or do you really think that SONY is not going to go this way, cus I fear they will lose financially if they don’t. Has SONY lied to us about their plans then? Because if they say that are more for the Hardcore market they are going to suffer surely. The hardcore market probably makes up 5%, if that, of the gamers out there (taking into account tablets etc)

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            May 22, 2013 at 10:12

            “It’s a massively important issue and I understand why it’s one that keeps coming up and will keep coming up, because people want to know what the exact stance is,” Denny said.

            “In relation to points like that, of course we’re mindful of what the game development community wants and what the wider industry issues are with those things. I think in good time that will become clearer,”

            “It’s not something that I feel I have any further announcement or comment to make on, other than to acknowledge with you that it’s a massively important issue and of course we are going to do the right thing,”

            Just a few comments from VP Michael Denny over at Sony. So I think that’s why because there is still hope. If Sony come out and say “nope” straight out I think the hate will start.

          • Rince an repeat

            May 22, 2013 at 10:16

            Yeah, that is what I remember reading. He never said NO, so it isn’t off the table, and I think if the SONY board know that MS is doing it, you can expect them to want money in their pockets too. Love the way I get downvoted by asking questions an obvious fucking SONY fanboy doesn’t want asked! LOL!

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            May 22, 2013 at 10:37

            Don’t let the downvotes get to you.

          • Rince an repeat

            May 22, 2013 at 10:47

            Neva!

          • Rince an repeat

            May 22, 2013 at 10:06

            Then why is the rage from last night so much worse than after the SONY launch? Or do you really think that SONY is not going to go this way, cus I fear they will lose financially if they don’t. Has SONY lied to us about their plans then? Because if they say that are more for the Hardcore market they are going to suffer surely. The hardcore market probably makes up 5%, if that, of the gamers out there (taking into account tablets etc)

          • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

            May 22, 2013 at 10:01

            Then you know what , Gamers need to give MS the finger and boycott this machine

          • Rince an repeat

            May 22, 2013 at 10:02

            I’ve also been looking around the internet and it appears SONY said you would also need to put a code in when buying a new game. Is that any different?

          • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

            May 22, 2013 at 10:06

            Hmmm, I wonder, well look maybe that is activating a game(Krap on it’s own) but I don’t know if that stops you from selling it maybe, I don’t know

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            May 22, 2013 at 10:06

            Unfortunately the amount of current-gen gamers who are used to this kind of thing won’t boycott it.

            The old “core” gamer is no longer considered the “core” gamer and is becoming irrelevant. Nothing is going to stop this.

          • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

            May 22, 2013 at 10:09

            That’s too sad man …. I can’t accept it

  11. Khulani Ndlovu

    May 22, 2013 at 09:27

    Damn yeah seems everybody’s is on their own now, no more borrowing, what’s the point of paying for a borrowed game rather just buy a new one & install it on my console once, Xbox One is kinda selfish i can see, 😉

    Reply

  12. Khulani Ndlovu

    May 22, 2013 at 09:27

    Damn yeah seems everybody’s is on their own now, no more borrowing, what’s the point of paying for a borrowed game rather just buy a new one & install it on my console once, Xbox One is kinda selfish i can see, 😉

    Reply

  13. Trevor Davies

    May 22, 2013 at 09:33

    Lending your game to a friend, or playing your legally purchased game on a different machine is copying?

    No my friend, no it’s not.

    Reply

  14. Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

    May 22, 2013 at 09:34

    ……. Next Gen VCR, allows you to fast forward to the end of the game

    Reply

  15. CrasH

    May 22, 2013 at 09:35

    If there was going to be a console war…. well this just ended it.
    The only justification could be a 30% drop in sales price of games, else there is no hope.

    Guess the next real debate wont be xbox, ps4 but could be steam big picture…
    Think about it… the consoles are going X86, so there is no differance between them and steam big picture, accept the range of games, indie games, specials and prices…

    Reply

  16. Brady miaau

    May 22, 2013 at 09:36

    Seems reasonable. From a certain perspective.

    I am not a shareholder, so it seems unreasonable to me.

    Let us wait to see the master plan……..

    Reply

  17. Warren Lombard

    May 22, 2013 at 09:38

    The BT games used game bin will see less people….

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      May 22, 2013 at 12:36

      No it won’t, I don’t think I will be buying a next gen console at this point….So I will be ONE with that bin to build up a decent library and just keep gaming on my Xbox 360 and PS3!! The next gen consoles has nothing that I want at the moment….

      Reply

  18. caponeil

    May 22, 2013 at 09:43

    wakakaka – from a PS “fanboy” – this made my day! PS4 it will be then. Games are so expensive, every x-mas me and a mate decide on who buys what, we play and then swop! Crazy..crazy..crazy!!

    Reply

  19. Admiral Chief Commander

    May 22, 2013 at 09:44

    MS owns your ass

    Reply

  20. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    May 22, 2013 at 09:45

    *BOOM*
    Headshot.
    Microsoft killed 2ndHandmarket_Bot with DRM

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Commander

      May 22, 2013 at 09:46

      XD

      Reply

    • DaeMon

      May 22, 2013 at 09:57

      GG

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        May 22, 2013 at 09:59

        XD

        Reply

  21. Lydon Daniel McGrane

    May 22, 2013 at 09:46

    As an Xbox fan I can truly say that this alone will stop me from buying an Xbox One. There’s not a chance I’ll buy the console if I’m barred from borrowing or buying second hand games.

    Reply

    • Macethy

      May 22, 2013 at 09:50

      Two things killed it for me (and the 360 was my first console):
      1. No backwards compatability
      2. The controller still runs on AA batteries!

      Reply

      • HvR

        May 22, 2013 at 12:06

        AA batteries is about the only positive thing, you get way better rechargeable batteries for your money.

        Reply

  22. Anon A Mouse

    May 22, 2013 at 09:57

    I’m so over the next gen consoles. Looks like this gen will be my last. Better get my library up to date. At least I will still have enough games to last me a few years, but next gen can kiss my arse. I’m done.

    Reply

    • e1ace

      May 22, 2013 at 10:33

      What’s wrong with Sony’s next gen approach so far? Granted they still have time to mess things up – but so far all they’ve done is cater to the core gamers for PS4.

      Reply

      • MieLLiePaP

        May 22, 2013 at 11:37

        Remember Sony also didn’t confirm yet if you need internet. They only said the same thing that MS said and that is that you don’t need to be “always connected”, but u probably need to connect to activate the game.

        Reply

        • e1ace

          May 22, 2013 at 11:51

          Yeah I know. I figure Sony might do something similar. I just hope they come out and say it. I hate all the speculation from misinformation from MS. First they say no fee. Then they say full price.

          My point was that what has Sony done wrong so far with the PS4 what would make you give up on next gen consoles?

          Reply

  23. Theo Steenekamp

    May 22, 2013 at 09:59

    Let ze hacking commence!

    Reply

  24. Tbone187

    May 22, 2013 at 10:18

    WTF…!!!!!! MS really dropped the ball on this one…Be surprised if they even sell one console with this rubbish…Using Apple’s DRM techniques here…Sell outs!!!! Sony: The people’s Champ….

    Reply

  25. Noodlez49

    May 22, 2013 at 10:25

    “What follows naturally from this is that each disc would have to be tied to a unique Xbox Live account”

    Ok, so own both a PS3 and Xbox, so I am not a fanboy in any way, but this is what is probaly going to stop me from supporting M$ further.
    What happens if I loose my account details, change my account or so on, this will mean my Live account will change, so then I cant play a game I purchased because its linked to my old M$ live acc? Sorry but M$ arent trying to get new “core” gamerz on board, the only thing they will accomplish with this new tech is to chase away the “core” they had. I had to choose 1 new console for my xmas tree and seems my choice has now been made up for my by M$, bring on the new PS,

    Reply

  26. Aussious

    May 22, 2013 at 10:45

    I said it yesterday I’ll say it again…Third console curse.

    Reply

  27. riaan

    May 22, 2013 at 10:48

    I hate this feature already!!!

    I really hope they don’t put this in production!

    Reply

  28. Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

    May 22, 2013 at 10:59

    • DaeMon

      May 22, 2013 at 14:53

      thats only a possible scenario…

      Reply

      • Umar 'Van Hohenhaim' Bastra

        May 22, 2013 at 15:00

        Yea they cleared that up afterwards, but why is MS in such a mess that they have to keep clearing things up and all this bad press keeps piling, but if it is a possible scenario … that’s still bad

        Reply

  29. Eeko Eight-Seven

    May 22, 2013 at 11:00

    The way things are looking, and if Sony does something similar with used games, I’ll be switching back to PC gaming real soon. Sure I’ll miss out on some exclusives, but all of this is getting too ridiculous. Swapping games with mates has always been part and parcel of console gaming. Been doing it since Famicom days. That coupled with the always online BS, and the fact that consoles seem to be evolving into PCs more and more, is starting to make my mind up for me. One of the charms of the console was always that you just popped in the cartridge/disc, and off you go. Always used that as one of my arguments in the PC vs Console debate. Now even with the current gen, you have to perform some sort of install. Long story short, I’d rather just buy a decent spec PC than something that’s pretending to be a decent spec PC.

    (PS: I ain’t no fanboy. I game on pretty much anything that can do it…so I’m not really 100% for or against any platform…some might call it fence sitting!! LOL)

    Reply

  30. Dean_12

    May 22, 2013 at 11:42

    I guess someone needs to hack the PS4 and Xbox 1 so we can bypass this.

    Reply

  31. Kyle Farmer

    May 22, 2013 at 11:57

    So glad I spent the cash and bought a beastly PC… Consoles can go suck it now. Why bother to be honest? PC’s can be higher spec’d (at a price, true), you can still use your remote (if you’re that way inclined – I prefer mouse and keyboard). Next gen my arse. I’ll miss Red Dead though 🙁

    Reply

  32. Kobus Nel

    May 22, 2013 at 12:34

    I believe the term is “frak that shit!”

    Reply

  33. Matthew Figueira

    May 22, 2013 at 14:37

    This gif is amazing xD

    Reply

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